Shutdown inflicting flight delays, staffing shortages at airports
The government shutdown, now coming into its seventh day, is delaying flights and threatening funding to small cities that rely on it to get air service.
Here’s a look at what we’ve realized:
• Staffers calling in sick: Department of Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy mentioned yesterday that an elevated variety of air site visitors controllers have already referred to as out sick throughout the shutdown. The improve has different by facility however “there’s been a 50% reduction” in staffing in some areas, he mentioned. Controllers are thought of important employees, so they need to work throughout the government shutdown, however will not be at present being paid.
• Flights delayed: As a results of air site visitors controller staffing shortages, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is delaying flights into main airports in Newark and Denver.
• Subsidies threatened: The Essential Air Service program, a program that gives subsidies for flights to small cites that in any other case may not obtain air service, will run out of funding Sunday, the Department of Transportation mentioned. The DOT mentioned it had “exhausted every resource” to extend the shortfall.